Improvement in mail-bag fastenings



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRICE X. BLAIR, 0F HUNTINGD'ON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAG FASTENINGS.

'Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139.536, dated June 3, 1873; application filed December 19, 1572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Baton X. BLAIR, of Huntingdon, in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lock-Fastening for Mail-Pouches, Satchels, Carpet-Bags, Snc.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

The invention relates to modes of conveniently applying locks to pouches, satchels, carpet-bags, and analogous articleshand it consists in employing two hinged sliding clamps, and in providing the adjacent end of each with a corresponding eye, through both of which the bow of padlock is passed and then locked. It also consists in an apertured plate sliding in a recess on top of clamps to hold rmly the name, address, or destination ot' the pouch, or the name of the owner of the Satchel or carpet-bag.

In the drawing, Figure l is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation from the opposite side of Fig. l with the clamps opened; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section through line :c a: of Fig. 1.

A A represent the hinged jaws, to which are usually attached, by rivets or otherwise, the pouch, satchel, or carpet-bag. The jaw A has a guide and locking-rib, a, which is received in a groove, b, of the sliding clamps B B and the usual ilange, under which the other jaw folds. a a. a are ears projecting from jaw A and receiving the guide-rod C, which is riveted on the outer side of two of the ears a. Tile sliding clamps B have arms b1 b, perforated so as to allow them to slide on rod (l, and vertical eyes b2 b2 on their adjacent 0pposite ends.

The application is as follows: When the clamps B are turned over the rod C as a pint1e or pivot the jaws A A `may be freely opened; but when it is desired to lock the pouch or Satchel, and the jaws have been closed, the clamps are swung over them, slided up until they come in contact, the bow of the padlock passed through the eyes, and the article locked.

The rib a in jaw and groove bin clamp cause the two jaws always to be held securely together without a possibility of gaping or being spread apart by the contents of the bag.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The clamps B B, arranged to slide on rod C and rib a and hold the two jaws,` securely together, as set forth.

2. The slides B B, provided with eyes b2 b2 on their opposite adjacent ends, applied to a traveling-bag", mailbag, or their equivalents, as and for the purpose described.

BRICE X. BLAIR.

Witnesses SoLoN (l. KEMON, Trios. D. D. DURAND. 

